The hardest tracts to give out are to my family. I have no trouble tracting friends, strangers, but giving tracts to family make me nervous. In particular, to one of my aunties and uncles. I had heard a story previously about how they now exclude my uncle's sister from their lives because she had become Christian. Would I receive the same treatment if I tract them? But I know I must share the gospel, especially to my family. God has brought me to salvation, in a family who are mostly unsaved to save their souls. No matter how uncomfortable I feel about sharing the gospel with them, I must do it, and be content and satisfied with the outcome or consequences.
I prayed to God to give me an opportunity and the courage to give them the chinese version of the gospel tract to them. Of course, I made sure I carried a tract with me at all times if there were any chance I would see them. An opportunity arose and I gave the gospel tract, other chinese gospel material and a mandarin gospel rally flyer to their daughter, my cousin. I told her to make sure she read it and to pass it to her brother to read afterwards. The next day, I spoke to my cousin asking her if she had read it yet. She said she wasn't into 'that stuff' so she hadn't read it. I insisted that she read it, that she just had to take a few minutes out of her day to read it properly.
The next night, the entire extended family had gathered for a steamboat dinner. After dinner, all the parents were sitting at the dining table finishing off dessert. I had finished eating my dessert and was walking passed the table to the kitchen. As I walked past, my uncle said he had something to tell me after I put away my plate. Normally, he would never really talk to me. Blood rushed to my head, I knew it must be about the tracts. This is the moment I had been dreading. As I put my plate in the sink, I prayed.
I approached my uncle, and he pulled something out of his jacket pocket. It was all the gospel material I had given my cousin, in a plastic bag. He begins by saying he has nothing against me being a christian, but to never evangelise to his family or bring that material into his house again. I swallowed and nodded. He said he had read the chinese gospel book which compares buddhism to christianity. He didn't agree with some of the statements presented in the book and told me bluntly how silly the arguement was. I nodded again. My grandfather asked me if I'm forced to donate 10% of my salary to the church. I told them its not necessary but I do donate money. He starts talking about a story about how some leaders of churches in Malaysia had run off with donation money. I know my family must have had many bad experiences with various religious figures. I walked away to the living room because I didn't want to argue, and because I wouldn't be able to argue very well in chinese anyway. From where I was sitting, I could still clearly hear their conversation.
I shared because God loves me, and regardless of the outcome, I trust God and His plan. What happened next was unbelievable. My family has never talked openly about religion before. For the first time in my life, I heard my grandparents, aunties and uncles talking about buddhism, christianity, life and death. It was so amazing! I could never have imagined giving the tract would result in this.
I have planted the seed. Someone else may water it. But God will give the increase. I pray that my family will eventually be led to Christ and when the time comes, I can see them in heaven.
Gavin
Kman went to call his friend Matthew, for help, and thank God he agreed to come. I was already thinking "Oooo I can give him a tract!" and while waiting for him to come, out there in the carpark was just a awesome, unmissable opportunity to give out tracts. I had already given out the 30in30 tracts that I brought, so we used the spare tracts in my car, and in that while, me and nova and kman were able to give out lots of tracts to the many people walking past. It was a good experience for Nova too, she had never given out a tract before, and her approach was so simple and sweet: "This is God's gift for you." Awww. Matthew then came with his girlfriend, Jacinta, and while Matthew and Kwanthar were jumpstarting my car, I was able to pass a tract and talk to Jacinta. It was such a blessing and Kwanthar told us that he was trying to talk to Jacinta for a while ["because if Jacinta comes to Christ Matt will be more receptive too"] so thank God for answered prayers! After saying goodbye to Matt we prayed for all the tracts given out that day, and another thing is that I prayed this morning asking God to grant me situations to talk to people and give out tracts, and I got more than what I expected! Praise God!